Tornado doesn't stop Indiantown community from continuing VFW meeting plans

INDIANTOWN, Fla. - Despite the damage caused by a tornado Tuesday night, the VFW lodge members and surrounding community are moving forward with their plans.

An EF-0 tornado ripped through the VFW lodge with winds of 80-85 miles per hour, tearing it to pieces, damaging a neighboring home and destroying a barn, the National Weather Service confirmed.

The VFW has served as a community meeting place for more than 50 years. The building was created from two homes that were moved to the property in the 1960s. When the storm hit, the roof was taken off and the walls were caved in or ripped away. The entire building was moved from its foundation by nearly a foot.

The VFW members had been planning their biggest fundraiser in history for this weekend. The members decided within hours to go forward with the plans despite the destruction of their longtime meeting place.

A fish fry and dancing under the stars events are planned for Friday night. Early Friday morning, tents were already set up by the community to prepare. Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon a breakfast, turkey shoot and boar hunt are planned. A golf tournament is scheduled for the afternoon.

The silver lining, members say, is that the tornado hit at a day and time when people were not in the building. They joked that the dancing under the stars event would now, truly, be under the stars.

To assist in the fundraising effort, call Commander David Shelton at 772-597-0902.

To make a donation:

VFW POST 6023

16701 SW Morgan Street

Indiantown, Fla. 34956